Vintage Hollywood films and stars

GREAT CHARACTERS: Captain Renault,Casablanca

Played by anyone other than Claude Rains, Captain Louis Renault in CASABLANCA might not have been such a likeable character.
We really should despise him. He seems to believe in nothing but lining his own pockets and taking advantage of any woman who takes his fancy.
But played with such charm by Claude Rains,you warm to Renault. Who else could call Rick (Humphrey Bogart) ‘Ricky’, or say, “I’m only a poor,corrupt official.”

And it is after all Renault who gets to say the immortal line,
“Round up the usual suspects.”
And he does the right thing in the end!
So here’s to Louis. Who knows what he and Rick will get up to when they leave Casablanca. I’d like to think they remained friends.